A cut above the rest

SUSSEX — Run exclusively by mother and owner Tami Decker, High Point Barbershop is celebrating its 10 year anniversary.

Getting into the barbershop business

Decker began cutting hair 21 years ago in the Sparta area by herself.

"I originally started at a salon," she explained. "I was shampooing there for three years. After that I was a manager at Buzzcuts."

High point Barbershop was established by the late John Hundly at 37 Hamburg Avenue in Sussex. He relocated to 5 Loomis Avenue before his passing. When Decker saw High Point Barbershop was for sale, she decided to take the plunge and purchase it in October of 2004.

Although she has been successful, she didn’t necessarily know all along that this would be her path.

"It kind of just fell into my lap," Decker said. "I never anticipated owning my own barber shop. I knew when I was younger that I wanted to be a hairdresser or something in the barber field so I decided to take a chance and 10 years later here we are."

Decker credits her grandparents for inspiring her.

"My great grandmother and my grandma I'd have to say have inspired me the most," Decker said. "Two of the most hard working, determined, loyal, caring, ambitious woman I have admired and been honored to take after myself."

After being in the same location for nearly 10 years, Decker decided that it was time for a move back to 27 Hamburg Avenue so that she could provide more service for her clients.

"I wanted to be able to operate business hours on Sundays," she said. "I wasn't able to do that at the other location. I have two young children so I wanted to have clients seven days a week but with shorter hours."

One woman showDecker runs the entire barbershop by herself.

"I work alone," said Decker. "It's just me, one person all the time. You don't have to second guess who will be there to cut your hair. When the barber pole is spinning I'm here cutting hair."

Keeping a business running all by herself for more than a decade is no small feat so there must be some secret to Decker's success.

"The key to my success is my clients definitely. I couldn't have made it without them," she said.

"Being 21 years in the business I could spend all day telling my best stories..." Decker said. "But my motto is the walls of the barbershop don't talk. People come here to know what's said in the barbershop stays at the barbershop."

It might be a small operation but visitors can have high expectations, according to Decker.

"People should come on by because it is the best $12 haircut in the county, at least in my opinion,” she said. “I'm the only barbershop in the county that you can get a haircut as early as 8 a.m. seven days a week."

"My favorite part of being in business for myself is that people include me into their lives," Decker said. "It's not just a haircut, it's worn every day, all day. A haircut can make you lighter, a little cooler or just put a smile on your face to see your favorite barber once a month."

High Point Barbershop is located at 37 Hamburg Avenue in Sussex.